Notorious DRC cops bash journalists

From JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – MEDIA rights groups have denounced the physical
attack on journalists by senior police officers during a demonstration in the explosive eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Col. Van Kasongo, the deputy commander of the Nord-Kivu police, who is
notorious for attacking journalists led the assault of the three media
personnel covering the peaceful demonstration in Goma, the provincial
capital.
Radio journalists Rozen Kalafulo and Freddy Bikumbi as well as photographer Willian Dupuy were attacked and beaten by the four officers after being told to move away from the demonstration by members of the grass-roots movement Struggle for Change.
The protestors are demanding an end to the political problems.
They were grabbed by the hair, throttled and punched while their equipment was confiscated.
The intervention of Nord-Kivu commander, Gen. Vital Umiya Awashango, after the trio’s media colleagues alerted him salvaged the situation.
“We firmly condemn this attack by Col. Kasongo, who has a history of
violence against journalists, and we call for him to be brought to justice before the relevant military tribunal,” Reporters Without Borders head, Virginie Dangles, said.
Last July, Kasongo threatened another radio journalist, Gabriel Wamenya
Reporters Without Borders ranks DRC 152nd out of 180 countries in its
press freedom index.
– CAJ News